A List of Hurricane Idalia Closings in Central Florida

- Michelle Snow

Hurricane Information For Orlando

Idalia has become a hurricane as it approaches Florida, so businesses and cities/counties have started posting closures and alternate hours.

Counties now included in a declared state of emergency:

Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier,Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, and Wakulla counties.

To make it easier on you, I’m compiling this list of Hurricane Idalia related announcements that I will be updating as needed, so please bookmark this page until the storm passes. I also recommend Rep. Anna V. Eskamani’s list of Hurricane resources.

If I’ve missed something important, please send the information via our contact form, or leave it in the comments. Self-promotion spam will be deleted.

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Hotels Offering Florida Resident Rates

Some hotels have announced Florida resident rates and discounts for the duration of the hurricane’s path to and through the state:

LEGOLAND Florida – Florida residents evacuating from the storm can book a room at LEGOLAND® Hotel or LEGOLAND® Pirate Island Hotel for $129 per night, for stays from Aug. 29-31. This is available for new bookings only.

Rosen Hotels and Resorts – Offering rates starting at $69 per night at seven of its Orlando properties. Rosen Hotels & Resorts is pet-friendly (no additional pet fee during distress rates), offers free WiFi and never charges a resort fee. To reserve a room, please call 866-33-ROSEN (76736). Offer requires proof of residency in affected area(s).

Walt Disney World – Florida residents evacuating from the storm and first responders assisting in storm-related recovery efforts may also receive 50% off Disney Resort hotel stays on the evenings of Aug. 29-31, 2023. For evacuees, please call 407-W-DISNEY for details. For first responders, please call 407-828-3200 (Option 3). This applies to new bookings only and is based on availability.

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Theme Parks and Attractions

Adventure Island, Tampa – Will be closed Tuesday through Thursday, Aug 29-31.

AMALIE Arena, Tampa – Due to expected inclement weather, the $uicideboy$ event at AMALIE Arena on Tuesday, Aug. 29 has been rescheduled to Sunday, Nov. 5. All tickets for the original date are valid for the rescheduled date. If a guest cannot attend the rescheduled date, refunds are available at point of purchase through Thursday, Sept. 28.

Busch Gardens Tampa – The park has enacted its Named Storm Policy and will close at 3 p.m. Tuesday August 29 and remain closed Wednesday, August 30. The park plans to reopen on Thursday, August 31.

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens – Will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug 29-30, with hopes to reopen Thursday.

Clearwater Aquarium, Clearwater – Will be closed Tuesday & Wednesday, in anticipation of Hurricane Idalia.

Daytona Lagoon Water Park, Daytona Beach – Due to the uncertainty of Wednesday’s weather, Daytona Lagoon will be fully closed Wednesday, Aug. 30. Water park plans to resume normal operations on Thursday, August 31st.

Discovery Cove Orlando – Will be closed Wednesday Aug 30 for the safety of animals, employees, and guests. Operations will resume Aug 31. If your reservation is impacted, please email dco-guestrelations@discoverycove.com to rebook your visit.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando – “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert” on August 30, 2023 has been postponed. New date to be announced.

ICON Park Orlando – The Wheel and Carousel will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30. due to Hurricane Idalia. For further questions on other ICON Park restaurants and attractions, please contact their business directly.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Merritt Island – Due to anticipated impacts of Hurricane Idalia, the KSC Bus Tour and the Apollo/Saturn V Center will not be operating on Wednesday, August 30. All other exhibits at the main visitor complex will operate during regular hours of 9am to 5pm.

LEGOLAND Florida – Will remain open tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug 30. While the parks and hotels will be open, guests may experience limited park operations due to weather conditions.

Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando – The OCRHC will be closed on Wednesday, August 30 due to Hurricane Idalia. They expect to resume normal operations on Thursday, August 31 at 10am.

Peppa Pig Theme Park – Will remain open Wednesday, 8/30. While the Resort will be open, guests may experience limited park operations due to weather conditions..

Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater – Due to the impending hurricane, “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Live In Concert,” scheduled for Tuesday, August 29 at 7pm, has been postponed. Please hold onto your tickets as they will be honored on the new date, which will be announced soon.

SeaWorld Orlando – SeaWorld Orlando continues to carefully monitor weather conditions and forecasts. “We will take all necessary precautions to protect the safety of guests, employees and the animals who live in our park. We will communicate any updates on our website and social media platforms as soon as they are available.”

Universal Orlando – Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Volcano Bay are planning to open and operate as normal at 9am on Wednesday, Aug. 30. However, they will not offer their usual Early Park Admission benefit for on-site hotel guests, select Annual Passholders, and other select travel trade clients on this day while teams prepare the parks for opening after the storm. Hotels remain operational as they focus on taking care of our guests.

Walt Disney World – The parks and Disney Springs will remain open. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park, along with Winter Summerland Miniature Golf and Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf will be closed on August 30. At this time, change and cancellation fees imposed by Disney will be waived for check-in dates of August 28, 2023 through September 5, 2023. Guests currently staying at our Disney Resort hotels whose travel plans have been impacted by the storm may receive a discounted rate to extend their stay through the evening of August 31, if needed, by visiting the front desk.

Wild Florida, Kenansville – For Wednesday, August 30, all airboat tours will be suspended. The Drive-thru Safari Park will remain open, with the last car entering the trail at 5pm. The Gator Park will remain open and close at 6pm.

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Schools

Orange County Schools – There will be no school for OCPS students on Wednesday, Aug. 30. All after-school activities must end Aug 29 by 8pm and will be canceled for Wednesday. They are planning on resuming school on Thursday, Aug. 31.

Osceola County Schools – Closed on Wednesday, August 30

Polk County Schools – Will be closed this Wednesday and Thursday, Aug 30-31.

University of Central Florida (UCF) – Academic and most campus operations are suspended Wednesday, Aug. 30, due to Tropical Storm Idalia.

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City and County Services

City of Altamonte Springs – The City will close all offices, facilities & parks on Wed, August 30. Additionally, all recreational activities, events, yard waste & recycling collection are suspended for Wednesday as well.

City of Orlando – All City of Orlando Community Centers, Recreation Centers, and pools will close today Tuesday, August 29 at 7pm.

City of Sanford – City Hall and all City Facilities will be closed on Wednesday, August 30th, 2023. City Hall is expected to re-open on Thursday, August 31 at 7am.

Lake Eola Park – Facilities will be closing tonight, Tuesday, August 29 at 7pm, in preparation for Hurricane Idalia. This includes: swan boats, bathrooms, and playgrounds. Facilities will be reopened once they are cleared.

LYNX services – All busses will be off the road at 11pm Tuesday, August 29. ACCESS LYNX will operate life sustaining trips only on Wednesday. Service will be re-established when it is safe to do.

Orange County Library System – All library locations will be closing end of business day today, August 29, due to the approach of Hurricane Idalia, and will remain closed Wednesday, August 30. They will monitor weather conditions closely to decide if they are able to re-open as planned on Thursday, August 31.

Orange County Parks & Recreation – All parks, facilities, boat ramps, rentals & programs will close Tues, Aug 29 at 8pm thru Wed. Aug. 30. Individual sites & facilities will re-open Thurs. 8/31, after each location is assessed for storm damage & deemed safe for the public.

Orange County Utilities – No curbside garbage, recycling, yard waste and large item service for unincorporated Orange County households on Wednesday. Wednesday items will be picked up next Wednesday, Sept. 6.

Orlando International Airport – Based upon the current forecast, the airport will remain open and maintain a state of readiness.

Osceola County – Osceola County offices will be closed Wednesday, August 30 and re-open Thursday, August 31. Public safety services will continue. All Ninth Judicial Circuit Court operations are closed Wednesday, August 30. It is anticipated that operations will return to normal on Thursday, August 31.

Polk County Waste and Recycling – Will be running all collection routes on Wednesday, August 30. There may be delays due to the weather in the early morning.

SunRail – Service is suspended until further notice due to the impending storm. Visit SunRail’s social media for updates.

About Michelle Snow

Michelle is the owner and editor of CitySurfing Orlando. She also owns Zengrrl.com, is a freelance writer specializing in travel and entertainment, has authored/co-authored four guidebooks on Orlando and Florida, and is head editor/writer at TheDisneyBlog.com. She's lived in Orlando near Walt Disney World since 1995, and still finds there's so much fun to be had in Central Florida.
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